Visafone has launched its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative by presentation of over 200 protective helmets and reflective jackets to Okada riders drawn from Victoria Island in Lagos.
Working in conjunction with Arrive Alive, an NGO committed to ensuring the safety of motorists and road users across Nigeria, Visafone said it launched the initiative as a means of contributing to the safety of road users as well as cushioning the traumatic head injuries suffered by Okada drivers who usually drive without helmets while also providing reflective jackets for night time operations.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Chike Nwaka, zonal commanding officer, Zone II Head Quarters of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) who was represented by, Mr. M. L Abdullahi, assistant corps commander, commended Visafone for the initiative which he called a "timely and worthwhile venture that will reduce fatalities on our roads and protect the lives of both Okada riders and their passengers."
Explaining the rationale behind the CSR initiative, Visafone, in a statement signed by Toni Kan Onwordi said Visafone has and will always look beyond the bottom line as a responsible corporate citizen. "As a wholly Nigerian owned company, we are committed not just to ensuring that Nigerians experience the joy of communication through our services, we also want them to experience a better quality of life by empowering them economically and ensuring safety of lives on our roads," he said.
According to the company, the Bar Beach event is a pilot scheme and will be replicated across the state and country in due course.